ABSTRACT BOOK Sandstone Landscapes ... - Sandstones.org

PTeam of the Administration of the PLA Broumovsko; presented by Jana KailováAdministration of Protected Landscape Area Broumovsko, Ledhujská 59, CZ-549 54 Police nad Metují,Czech Republic (chko.broumovsko@tiscali.cz)Sandstone landscapes in The Broumovsko Protected Landscape Area, Czech RepublicThe Protected Landscape Area Broumovsko (PLA) was established in 1991 by the act No 157/1991 Sb. onthe area 410 km 2 . The most popular sight of this region is the unique cretaceous sandstone relief. Six naturepreserves and natural monuments are declared in this area: Adršpach-Teplice rocks, Broumov walls, rockyhills Ostaš and Křížový vrch, Kočičí skály rocks and the rocky outcrop Borek covering in total almost 3000ha. One can find sandstone rocks also in parts of the first and second zone of PLA Broumovsko on hillsHejda, Lada and Bor (together about 100 ha).The altitude of sandstone rocks in Broumov upland varies from 550 to 786 m. Average annual temperatureis in the range from 5 to 7°C and average annual precipitation varies from 700 mm to 900 mm. There aregrate climatic inversions in deep rocky gorges. The rocks were created from upper cretaceous marinesediments (middle Turonian and Coniacian). Earth movements on the faults, water erosion, ice and frostformed the relief and final shape of the rocks. The highest sandstone towers are more than 100 m high. Thelongest pseodocarst caves originated in rushed boulders in deep gorges. The cave “Teplická jeskyně” isabout 2 km long system. Some caves shelter bats, together 12 species. Other caves are decorated with rootstalagmites.Because of acidic rock bed and poor soils flora of sandstone areas is not that diverse. Most interesting andpreserved species can be found in wider gorges along the creeks: Leucojum vernum, Lunaria rediviva,Lycopodium annotinum, Oxycoccus palustris, Ledum palustre, Lilium martagon, Neottia nidus avis,Daphne mezerum, Eriophorum vaginatum, Rosa pendulina, Thalictrum aquilegifolium and Viola biflora.Birds ranks among the most interesting animals of the rocks, especially birds of prey and owls. We canmeet Falco peregrinus, Accipiter nisus, Bubo bubo, Glaucinium passerinum, also Ciconia nigra, and others.In total there are more than 70 nesting species. The spider Bathyphantes simillimus, a glacial relict, is thespecialty of cold gorges. Rocks and little peat lakes are home of various mollusks, dragonflies, amphibiansand reptiles.Management of forests changed its structure and the composition of species during last 300 years. TodayNorway spruce prevails. It causes the low ecological stability of the forests. Nature conservation insandstone landscapes in Broumovsko does not mean only the regulation of tourism and sport. The maintask of future is the restoration forests.